Internet service telephone communication connection method

• US 7,076,554 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAFORGIA, CHRISTIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/589,084
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 370/522, 370/352, 370/354, 370/356, 370/357, 370/401, 379/93, 379/382, 379/399, 709/227, 709/204, 709/205, 709/237, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

First and second telephone sets each comprise telephone set control units, voice codecs, and accumulating units. When the first telephone set, which is a subscriber of an internet service provider network, sends out internet service connection point data to the second telephone set, the second telephone set connects itself to the internet service provider network with reference to data in its accumulating unit and starts the voice codec. Then, the first telephone set connects itself to the internet service provider network and starts the voice codec. Thus, internet service telephone communication is made.

Claims

1. A telephone communication system comprising

a public network,

a specific internet service provider (ISP) network, and

a plurality of telephone sets accommodated in the public network,

wherein a calling telephone set, which is a subscriber to the specific ISP network, provides connection point data specific to said specific ISP network for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data provided by using the public network, the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting itself to the specific ISP network according to the connection point data, and the calling telephone set connecting itself to the specific ISP network, wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.

2. The telephone communication system according to claim 1, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed on a personal computer.

3. The telephone communication system according to claim 1, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed with an IVR (interactive voice response) unit or a facsimile data server or a voice recognition dialer or a voice mail.

4. The telephone communication system according to claim 1, wherein each telephone set comprises:

a ten-key unit having dial keys and a function key for indicating an internet telephone service;

a display unit for displaying a call arrival notification and results of various processes in the telephone set;

an accumulating unit for storing telephone number data and access identifier data of internet connection points to be connected by the calling and called sides;

a voice codec to be started by a command for voice communication in the specific ISP network; and

a telephone set control unit for detecting depressed push-buttons in the ten-key unit, obtaining the connection point data from the accumulating unit, sending out dial data and connection point data via the public network, starting the voice codec when the dialed side has been connected to the specific ISP network and, upon arrival of a call, retrieving the connection point data of the calling side, effecting connection to the specific ISP provider network by retrieving and referring to the accumulating unit according to the connection point data, and informing the calling side of the connection.

5. The telephone communication system according to claim 1, wherein each telephone set further comprises an encryption unit for permitting exchange of connection point data in terms of ciphers.

12. The telephone communication system according to claim 3, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed on a personal computer.

6. A telephone communication system comprising:

a public network,

specific internet service provider (ISP) network, and

a plurality of telephone sets accommodated in the public network,

wherein a calling telephone set, which is a subscriber to the specific ISP network, provides connection point data specific to said specific ISP network for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data provided by using the public network, the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting itself to the specific ISP network according to the connection point data, and the calling telephone set connecting itself to the specific ISP network, the connection point data including an IP address in the specific ISP network and a telephone number of a point to be connected to the specific ISP network, wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.

7. The telephone communication system according to claim 6, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed on a personal computer.

8. The telephone communication system according to claim 6, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed with an IVR (interactive voice response) unit or a facsimile data server or a voice recognition dialer or a voice mail.

9. The telephone communication system according to claim 6, wherein each telephone set comprises:

a ten-key unit having dial keys and a function key for indicating an internet telephone service;

a display unit for displaying a call arrival notification and results of various processes in the telephone set;

an accumulating unit for storing telephone number data and access identifier data of internet connection points to be connected by the calling and called sides;

a voice codec to be started by a command for voice communication in the specific ISP network; and

a telephone set control unit for detecting depressed push-buttons in the ten-key unit, obtaining the connection point data from the accumulating unit, sending out dial data and connection point data via the public network, starting the voice codec when the dialed side has been connected to the specific ISP network and, upon arrival of a call, retrieving the connection point data of the calling side, effecting connection to the specific ISP network by retrieving and referring to the accumulating unit according to the connection point data, and informing the calling side of the connection.

10. The telephone communication system according to claim 6, wherein each telephone set further comprises an encryption unit for permitting exchange of connection point data in terms of ciphers.

11. A telephone communication system comprising:

a public network,

a specific internet service provider (ISP) network, and

a plurality of telephone sets accommodated in the public network,

wherein a calling telephone set, which is a subscriber to the specific ISP network, provides connection point data specific to said specific ISP network for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data provided by using the public network, the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting itself to the specific ISP network according to the connection point data, and the calling telephone set connecting itself to the specific ISP network, the connection point data including an IP address in the specific ISP network and a telephone number of a point to be connected to the specific ISP network, a push-button telephone set having various function keys being provided between each of the plurality of telephone sets and the public network with a function of sending out a call from each telephone set, wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.

13. The telephone communication system according to claim 11, wherein functions of each telephone set are executed with an IVR (interactive voice response) unit or a facsimile data server or a voice recognition dialer or a voice mail.

14. The telephone communication system according to claim 11, wherein each telephone set comprises:

a ten-key unit having dial keys and a function key for indicating an internet telephone service;

a display unit for displaying a call arrival notification and results of various processes in the telephone set;

an accumulating unit for storing telephone number data and access identifier data of internet connection points to be connected by the calling and called sides;

a voice codec to be started by a command for voice communication in the specific ISP network; and

a telephone set control unit for detecting depressed push-buttons in the ten-key unit, obtaining the connection point data from the accumulating unit, sending out dial data and connection point data via the public network, starting the voice codec when the dialed side has been connected to the specific ISP network and, upon arrival of a call, retrieving the connection point data of the calling side, effecting connection to the specific ISP network by retrieving and referring to the accumulating unit according to the connection point data, and informing the calling side of the connection.

15. The telephone communication system according to claim 11, wherein each telephone set further comprises an encryption unit for permitting exchange of connection point data in terms of ciphers.

16. An internet communication method comprising steps of:

providing, by a calling telephone set that is a subscriber to a specific internet service provider (ISP) network, connection point data, specific to said specific ISP, for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data being transmitted using a public network, the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting to the specific ISP network on the basis of the connection point data, and

the calling telephone set connecting to the specific ISP network;

wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.

17. An internet communication method comprising steps of:

providing, by a calling telephone set that is a subscriber to a specific internet service provider (ISP) network, connection point data for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data being specific to said specific ISP and being transmitted using a public network,

the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting to the specific ISP network on the basis of the connection point data, and

the calling telephone set connecting to the specific ISP network,

the connection point data including an IP address in the specific ISP network and a telephone number of a point to be connected to the specific ISP network,

wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.

18. An internet communication method comprising steps of:

providing, by a calling telephone set that is a subscriber to a specific internet service provider (ISP) network, connection point data for making internet service telephone communication to a called telephone set, said connection point data being specific to said specific ISP and being transmitted using a public network,

the called telephone set receiving the connection point data from the public network and connecting to the specific ISP network on the basis of the connection point data, and

the calling telephone set connecting to the specific ISP network,

the connection point data including an IP address in the specific ISP network and a telephone number of a point to be connected to the specific ISP network, and

a push-button telephone set having various function keys being provided between each of the plurality of telephone sets and the public network with a function of sending out a call from each telephone set

wherein said called and calling party are connected for making said internet service telephone communication using the same specific ISP network.